Adjustable standard



March 20, 1934. E, L, I E 1,951,754

ADJUSTABLE STANDARD Filed Jan. 21, 1931 l S k k i\ II{IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIl Indenior EARLY L. GILBERT Patented Mar. 20, 1934 UNITEB STATES PATENT OFFHIE 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to vertically adjustable standards or pedestals for use in connection with electric floor lamps and other devices wherein it is desired to provide a supporting post which is vertically adjustable to different heights to suit the convenience of the user.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a post having telescopically arranged members one of which is longitudinally adjustable with respect to the other through the intervention of ratcheting means, this means being so arranged as to effectually preclude the accidental or unintentional collapse of the post.

A further object of this invention is to provide a longitudinally extensible standard or pedestal wherein the relatively movable elements thereof are maintained in predeterminedly fixed relation without the necessity for employing securing elements, such as set screws and the like.

Still another and important object of the invention is the provision of a vertically adjustable post or standard including means readily operable to permit the desired longitudinal adjustment of the standard, said means being further of such character as to effectually preclude the longitudinal collapse of the standard even though a considerable force is applied to the upper end thereof, as when the standard is employed to support a lighting unit of considerable weight.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a vertically adjustable standard or pedestal which can readily be adjusted to meet different height requirements, which is compact in form and eificient in operation and which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, such as those which relate to details of construction and operation, will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will appear more fully hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawing which illustrate a preferred form of construction and as finally pointed out in the appended claims. ln the said accompanying drawmg:-

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a floor lamp the standard or pedestal of which is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the adjustable pedestal or standard;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

(Cl. 248-Z) Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--i of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the rod constituting the vertically movable section of the standard; and

Figure 6 is a view illustrating a modification of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will be observed that the present invention has been shown for illustrative purposes solely as being in the form of a standard or pedestal for supporting a lamp. It will be understood however that this standard or pedestal is applicable for use wherever it is desired to support a device at various elevations to suit the convenience of the user of the device. In the particular illustration shown the vertically adjustable standard 10 comprises a relatively stationary section 11 and a relatively movable section 12, the upper movable section 12 being telescopically received within the lower stationary section 11. Secured to the upper end of the movable section 12 is the device the elevation of which it is desired to vary, this device being represented in Figure 1 as a lighting unit 13. The stationary section 11 extends vertically above and has its lower end suitably secured to a supporting base 14.

As appears quite clearly in Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the lower stationary section 11 of the standard comprises a tubular member 15 which is substantially coextensive in length with the overall length of the stationary section, this tubular member being internally reamed out to provide an annular shoulder 16 at a point spaced somewhat above the base 14. Suitably threaded into the lower end of the tubular member 15 is a bushing or similar element 17 to provide a second annular shoulder 18 immediately above the base 14.

Fitted within the upper portion of the tubular member 15 with its lower end resting upon the annular shoulder 16 is a substantially tubular member 19. This member 19 is longitudinally slotted, as at 20, throughout the entire extent thereof. Formed in the member 19 adjacent one edge of the slot 20 are a plurality of vertically spaced notches 21, each of these notches being inclined downwardly and away from the slot 20 to provide an arcuate seat 22 for a purpose which will be presently described. It will be observed that each of the notches 21, all of which are in communication with the slot 20, is provided with an inclined edge 23. The longitudinally slotted member 19 is tightly fitted within the tubular member 15 to prevent any relative rotation therebetween. As appears quite clearly in Figure 2 the upper end of the tubular member 15 is interiorly threaded, as at 24, and received within this interiorly threaded portion 24 is a tubular bushing 25 the lower end of which is adapted to engage the upper end of the member 19, as at 26,

whereby to secure the latter member against vertical displacement with respect to its tubular enclosing member 15. It will be observed that when the outer member 15 and the slotted and notched inner member 19 are assembled as just described there is provided in effect a stationary unit of tubular form in the inner surface of which is formed a longitudinally extending groove from one side of which extend a plurality of vertically spaced downwardly inclined recesses. This groove and its associated recesses do not however extend below the annular shoulder 16 formed in the outer member 15, although it will be understood that the internal diameter of the slotted and notched portion of the member is substantially equal to the internal diameter of that portion of the member 15 extending between the annular shoulders 16 and 18.

The upper and movable section 12 of the standard is preferably in the form of a tubular rod 27 which is adapted to slide freely within the longitudinally extending bore of the lower stationary unit. This tubular rod 27, which may be of any desired length, is provided at a point spaced above the lower end thereof with a radially extending pin 28, this pin being of a length suiiicient to project into the longitudinally extending slot or groove 28 formed in the stationary unit 11. It will be observed that when the tubular stem 27 is telescopically received within this stationary unit 11 vertical adjustment of the stem 2'? with respect to said unit is effected by rotating the same such that its pin 28 is adapted to ride freely within the slot or groove 20. When the desired elevation of the stem 27 is obtained the stem is rotated so as to locate the pin 28 within the proximate seat 22. To lower the stem it is merely necessary to lift the same vertically to an extent sufficient to remove the pin 28 from its seat 22 and at the same time rotate the stem to free the pin from the recess and so permit its projection into the slot or groove 20 whereupon the stem may be lowered and the operation reversed to reseat the pin in one of the lower seats 22.

It will be observed that the tubular stem 27 is extended a considerable distance below the pin 28 (see Figure 2) so that when the pin 28 is received within the lowermost seat 22 the bottom end of the stem 27 rests upon the shoulder 18. It will thus be seen that this shoulder 18 constitutes a bottom abutment which prevents the stem 27 from dropping below a predetermined point when the pin is located within the groove or slot 20. It will be understood of course that this shoulder 18 may be entirely eliminated in which case the pin 28 would engage the shoulder 16 to limit the downward movement of the stem 27.

It is important to note that the length of the stem 27 below the pin 28 is substantially equal to the overall length of the slotted and notched member 19 in consequence of which the tubular stem 27 is at all times coextensive with the member 19. This is true even when the pin 28 is received within the uppermost seat 22. There is thus provided a smooth continuous bore for electrical conductors (not shown) which extend upwardly through the continuous bore of the standard from the base thereof to the lighting unit 13. Inasmuch as the slot 20 and its associated notches are at all times covered by the wall of the tubular member 27 there is no possibility for the conductors to become frayed or otherwise worn through contact with the edges of the notches 21.

In Figure 6 is illustrated a modified form of construction of the longitudinally slotted and notched member, this member being designated in its modified form by the reference numeral 31. As appears quite clearly in the figure, the member 31 is provided with a slot 32 extending longitudinally throughout the entire length thereof and with a plurality of substantially T-shaped notches or recesses 33 extending laterally of the slot 32. These notches or recesses 33 are respectively so formed that each is provided with a pair of vertically aligned seats 34 and 35, for receiving the pin 28 of the axially shiftable member 27. It will be understood that this pin is adapted to be rotated out of the slot 32 into any one of the notches 33 by way of the opening 36 affording communication between each notch or recess 33 and the longitudinally extending slot 32. In normal use of the standard or pedestal the pin 28 is seated in one or the other of the seats 34 to provide the vertical adjustment desired. When it is desired to lift the standard from one point to another the rod 2'? may be grasped and lifted with the result that the pin 28 engages the upper seat 35 of the particular recess in which it is located, thereby precluding any tendency for the lower portion of the pedestal to drop downwardly and away from the rod 2'7 which is being held in the hand of the user. In other words, the extent of relative vertical movement between the members 27 and 15 is limited to the distance between any pair of seats 34 and 35 when it is attempted to lift the standard by means of the upper member 27.

Any suitable device may be employed to cover and conceal the upper end of the stationary unit 11 and to effect a pleasing connection between this unit and the vertically adjustable stem 27. As appears most clearly in Figure 2 the bushing 25 is provided with an exteriorly threaded enlarged head 29 with which is threadedly engaged a suitable cap member 30 the annular wall of which snugly embraces the upper end of the tubular member 15. This cap member 30 may be of any desired configuration and ornamentation to enhance the appearance of the standard. It will be understood of course that the standard herein disclosed is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the general principles or real spirit of the invention and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a standard of the character described, in combination, a relatively stationary tubular unit including in the internal surface thereof a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, said unit also including in said internal surface thereof a longitudinally extending groove cormnonly affording access to said notches, a member telescopically received within said unit and including means, located a substantial distance from the lower end of said member, adapted for travel within said groove and rotatable into and out of any one of said notches, and a cap member detachably secured to the upper end of said unit to form a bearing for said member.

2. In a standard of the character described, in

combination, a longitudinally slotted tubular member having a plurality of axially spaced inclined notches in communication with the slot in said member, an elongated tubular member axially movable with respect to said slotted member, and a pin on said elongated member adapted to travel within said slot for rotation into any one of said inclined notches, said elongated member being provided with a tubular extension of a length suificient to cover all of said notches when said pin is received in the outermost notch of said slotted member.

3. In a standard of the character described, a vertically extending tubular member having formed in the internal surface of the upper portion thereof a plurality of axially spaced downwardly inclined recesses, a tubular rod telescopically received within said member and of a greater length than the latter, and a lateral projection on said rod adapted to be selectively received within any one of said recesses upon axially shifting and partially rotating the rod relatively to the member, said rod being extended downwardly below said projection for reception within the lower portion of said tubular member when said projection is positioned within the lowermost notch, said rod extension serving as a cover for all of said notches when said projection is positioned Within the uppermost notch.

EARLY L. GILBERT. 

